You Can’t Deport a Movement, #IStandWithRavi

February 10, 2018 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Immigrant rights activist, Ravi Ragbir, is scheduled to report to the immigration building to be deported on February 10th. New Sanctuary Coalition and their allies are calling for an emergency rally to show solidarity with Ravi and immigrant communities across America.

This moment is urgent. This is bigger than any one case. ICE is escalating its attack on immigrants, and only our movement can stop them.

Bring your friends, your colleagues, your love and solidarity to demand a #NEWSANCTUARYCITY and show ICE that they cannot deport this movement.

Things are changing minute by minute. Ravi has a hearing on February 9th that could delay his deportation – but this rally against ICE will happen no matter what. For the most up to date developments about the rally on Saturday, text ISTANDWITHRAVI to 41411, follow us on Twitter (@NewSanctuaryNYC) and Facebook, and track the hashtags #IStandWithRavi and #NewSanctuaryCity.

We need to stop the escalation of ICE and the president’s attacks on immigrant communities, including targeting dissidents for deportation, threatening Dreamers with detention, ICE efforts to infiltrate courts and churches, and up to the racist rhetoric of the president and his office. We will not be silent and we will not let immigrant communities continue to be an example of the endless cruelty of this administration.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re asking friends and fellow activists to help hand deliver a message of love for all immigrants to ICE’s office by showing up on Feb. 10th at 9AM in solidarity with Ravi, Dreamers, TPS recipients, workers, families, and community members. We’ll use messages of love and solidarity to combat the “good immigrant, bad immigrant” narrative. We resent the pressure on immigrants to prove their social or economic worth in order to justify their humanity. We encourage making signs that celebrate people’s differences through what makes them special — not just how a piece of paper classifies them.

This rally concerns all of us — immigrants, U.S. citizens, New Yorkers. This is a fight against this racist administration’s attempt to overstep the constitution and cherry pick who has the right to freedom and who will be terrorized into silence. We’re going to let them know that this movement has deep roots and cannot be eradicated. We’re going to show them that you can’t deport a movement.

Please share widely!

Feel free to use the themes below when creating signs for the rally!

“You Can’t Deport a Movement” — ICE is targeting our leaders to try to silence our communities. We’re going to let them know that this movement has deep roots and cannot be eradicated.

“Have a heart!” — Express love for all immigrants! Complement it by wearing heart adorned clothing, signs, and accessories.

“I am Ravi” — Ravi Ragbir forfeited his privacy in this vulnerable time to stand as a symbol for the fight that millions of people in this country face. When we show our solidarity with him, we show it to all people threatened with deportation.

“Love to [….] immigrants” — Let’s remind America of every immigrant’s humanity. Status or citizenship is a detail, not an identity. Celebrate the identities, hobbies, and talents that make us human!